Contact Info
dev.crasta@va.gov  
585-364-8119

Publications
https://bit.ly/39wriYS

Research Interests

I have seen many families support each other around mental health challenges – both while treating Veteran clients and giving/receiving care in my own family. Through this work, I have become deeply familiar with the impact that individual mental health can have on our closest relationships. But these same experiences have also shown me the many ways that friends and loved ones can help each other through their struggles. My research takes a family approach to preventing Veteran suicide and works to turn distressed relationships into supportive partnerships. As part of a VA-funded Career Development Award, I am conducting a trial in the VA Finger Lakes Healthcare System on relationship support for Veterans when they struggle with relationship problems and mental health concerns at the same time.

I also support healthy relationships more broadly through developing tools for researchers, therapists, and couples. This includes self-report measures to help researchers and couple therapists more precisely assess emotional intimacy and relationship quality. I have also helped develop and evaluate online tools and educational workshops to build relationship skills.

I also support collaborators who want to bring family to the table to support existing suicide prevention efforts. These collaborations have included:

• Contributing to “Worried About a Veteran,” a resource for families who want to discuss suicide safety with a loved one who’s struggling
• Evaluating the Veteran’s Crisis Line’s response to “third party callers” (i.e., family, friends, or acquaintances of a Veteran calling because they are worried about their loved one’s safety)
• Helping develop and evaluate a suicide risk protocol for Coaching into Care – a free phone service for families and friends of Veterans who want to help their loved one access care
• Helping evaluate the benefits of including family members in suicide safety planning